January is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days. The first day of the month is known as the day of New Year. It is, on average, the coldest month of the year within most of the Northern Hemisphere (where it is the second month of winter) and the warmest month of the year within most of the Southern Hemisphere (where it is the second month of summer).
January symbols: The birthstone of January is the garnet which represents constancy. Its birth flower is the cottage pink Dianthus caryophyllus or galanthus. In Finnish, the month of tammikuu means the heart of the winter and because the name literally means Oak moon. The zodiac signs for the month of January are Capricorn (until January 19) and Aquarius (January 20 onwards). The traditional English birth month flower is the Carnation.
Historical Events for January, 1959
Day of Week 2nd » 'Luna 1', the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and to orbit the Sun, is launched by the Soviet Union.
Day of Week 3rd » Alaska is admitted as the 49th U.S. state.
3rd » Separatists in the Maldives declare the establishment of the United Suvadive Republic.
Day of Week 4th » 'Luna 1' becomes the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon.
Day of Week 7th » The United States recognizes the new Cuban government of Fidel Castro.
Day of Week 12th » The Caves of Nerja are rediscovered in Spain.
Day of Week 22nd » Knox Mine disaster: Water breaches the River Slope Mine near Pittston, Pennsylvania in Port Griffith, Pennsylvania known as Port Griffith; 12 miners are killed.
Day of Week 30th » ship MS Hans Hedtoft, said to be the safest ship afloat and "unsinkable" like the RMS Titanic, strikes an iceberg on her maiden voyage and sinks, killing all 95 aboard.
Famous Birthdays on January in 1959
1st » Andy Andrews (tennis) or Andy Andrews, American tennis player
1st » Azali Assoumani, Comorian politician, List of heads of state of Comoros called President of the Comoros
1st » Panagiotis Giannakis, Greek basketball player and coach
1st » Abdul Ahad Mohmand, Afghan pilot and astronaut